Keyboard actuating mechanism for diaphragm electric switch contact array

ABSTRACT

A manual keyboard includes a nomenclature bearing sheet supported on a rigid frame having finger keying openings through which soft elastomeric pads project. Below the pads an actuator sheet bearing clusters of individual projections is positioned with the projections aligned with the openings for operation of the actuable inputs of an array of diaphragm switches including a plurality of electrical contacts. Stops for projections include a peripheral array of additional projections which can be shorter, elevated adjacent surface areas or rings.

United States Patent 3,120,583 2/1964 Cornell Inventor MorrisKrakinowski Ossining, N.Y.

App]. No. 5,431

Filed Jan. 23, 1970 Patented Nov. 2,1971

Assignee International Business Machines Corporation Armonk, N.Y.

KEYBOARD ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR DIAPHRAGM ELECTRIC SWITCH CONTACT ARRAY21 Claims, 19 Drawing Figs.

U.S. CI 200/1 R, 200/5 R, 200/46, 200/86, 200/159, 200/172 R Int. Cl.H0lh 9/00, H0lh 43/08, H0lh 3/12 Field 01' Search 200/1, 5,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,120,584 2/1964 Grunfelder et alZOO/5 E 3,205,318 9/1965 Bilek 200/5 E 3,290,439 12/1966 Willcox et al200/5 A X 3,308,253 3/1967 Krakinowski 200/46 3,350,518 10/1967Krakinowski et a1. 200/46 3,382,338 5/1968 Arseneault et al 200/1593,494,550 2/1970 Hayes et al. 235/145 3,472,974 10/1969 McGough 200/159X Primary Examiner-l R. Scott AllomeysHanlfin and .lancin and Graham S.Jones, II

PATENTEDNUVZ l9?! 3.611660 SHEET 10F 5 INVENT MORRIS KRAKI Kl BYM/WATTORNEY WWW ml 3.617.660

SHEET 20F e FIG. 3

TYPICAL FORCE-DEFLECTION CURVE OF ACTUATING MECHANISMS FORCE (GRAMS) lllll'l DEFL PRETRAVEL OVERTRAVEL' FIG. 4 ACTUATING FORCE ALONG KEYDIAMETER FORCE (GR AMS) CENTER LINE OF KEY QPMOGRAMS l 1 DEFL *30 -15.15 .30 (mc gs) .025 .050 .075 (INCHES) PATENTEnuuvz |97l 3,617,660

SHEET am 6 PATENTEDNUH Ian 3,617,660

SHEETSOF 6 I FIG. 9B 20 KEYBOARD ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR DIAPHRAGMELECTRIC SWITCH CONTACT ARRAY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1 Field ofInvention This invention relates to keyboards for providing input ofdata to electrical apparatus and more particularly to such keyboardsemploying diaphragm switches and the like.

2. Description of Prior Art Diaphragm switches of the kind described incommonly assigned Krakinowski US. Pat. No. 3,308,253 have heretoforebeen included in keyboard designs as shown in Arsenault et al. US. Pat.No. 3,382,338, Hayes et al. United States patent application Ser. No.609,216 filed Jan, 13, 1967 now US. Pat. No. 3,451,168 and Yarborough U.S.;Pat. application Ser. No. 767,755 filed Oct. 15,1968 now U.S. Pat.No. 3,517,149 which provide each key position vwith a separate keyingmechanism, including a keying surface, an elastic coupling medium, andan actuator. Special devices must be incroporated to protect the switchfromoverload by the user.

An object of this invention is to provide an integrated keying mechanismsewing all keys in an array with common parts to reduce the number ofparts, simplify the structure and simulate to the user the response ofthe mechanism to his operation thereof in terms of manual force andpressure required for operation, pretravel, overtravel, variable touch,and the effect of a key stop to that provided by; conventional keyboardoperated apparatus such as typewriters.

Another object of this invention is to provide a simplified electricalkeyboard incorporating nieans for protecting the contact mechanism fromexcessive force applied to the keying surface.

A further object of this invention is to provide an integrated keyingmechanism including means for prevention of interaction between thekeying mechanismv for one set of contacts and adjacent unrelatedcontacts.

Still another object of this invention is to enhance the uniformity ofmanual pressure required to achieve contact closure so that in the eventof offcenter operator keying strokes on the keying surface of thekeyboard closure will occur for a force equal to that required when thestroke is on center. 1

Another object ofthis invention is a keyboard capable of absorbing highimpact blows upon the keying area without damage to the mechanism.

Further a keying mechanism with a bounceless actuator is desired, inorder to minimize transmission of vibratory forces to the contacts.

SUMMARY or THE INVENTION In accordance with this invention, a keyboardapparatus is provided including meansfor keying in data, an actuator foractuating an array of switches, a plurality of diaphragm switches, anddeformable means for coupling the actuator member and the switches.

Further in accordance with this invention, a plurality of elastomericprojections from" the actuator cooperate with the switches and means areincluded within the actuator member for stopping the actuator memberafter a predetermined degree of travel has occurred to minimize couplingof the stress pattern to adjacent projections;

Still another aspect of this invention relates to a separator frame anda plurality of keying padsl provided for alignment with the protrusionsupon the actuator for desirable manual keying action.

In another aspect of this inventiomperipheral means about one or moreprotrusionsprovide means for supporting the actuator after apredetermined degree of displacement, and for spreading force appliedover a substantially greater area.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of theinvention will be apparent from'the following more particulardescription of preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated inthe accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. .1 shows a vertical section of anintegrated keyboard formed of an array of diaphragm switches with asingle actuator member incorporating an array of protrusions thereonwith a plurality of keys above the actuator.

FIG. 2 shows a top plan view of the keyboard shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a graph of force applied to a key as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2as a function of displacement of the upper surface of the actuator sheetbeneath that key.

FIG. 4 shows force required on a particular key as a function of lateraldisplacement from the center of the key along a key diameter.

FIG. 5A shows a vertical section of the actuator and diaphragm switchshown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 5B is a bottom plan view taken along lines 58-55 in FIG. 5A showingthe bottom of the actuator.

FIG. 6A is a vertical section of a modified actuator and switchincluding a plurality of contact positions per key.

FIG. 6B is a bottom view of the actuator-of FIG. 6A taken along line6B6B.

FIG. 7A is a vertical section of a further modified actuator and switchfor a square key with plural contacts taken along line 7A-7A in FIG. 78.

FIG. 7B is a bottom plan view taken along line 78-78 in FIG. 7A.

FIG. 7C is a vertical section of the embodiment of FIG. 7A at rightangles to FIG. 7A taken along line 7C-7C in FIG. 7A.

FIG. 8 shows a vertical section of a further modified actuator andswitch.

FIG. 9A shows a vertical section of a modified actuator and switch witha ring-shaped rib concentric with the central actuating protrusion inplace of the peripheral protrusions.

FIG. 9B shows a bottom plan view taken along line 93-98 in FIG. 9A.

FIG. 10A shows a vertical section of a modified actuator and switch witha hollow about the central actuating protrusion and an elevated surfacebetween hollows.

FIG. 108 shows a bottom plan view taken along line 10B- 108 in FIG. 10A.

FIG. 11 is a vertical section of a rigid actuating protrusion projectedto actuate a diaphragm switch.

FIG. 12 is a vertical section of a sharp edged rigid actuator projectedto actuate a diaphragm switch.

FIG. 13 is a vertical section of another smaller cross section sharpedged actuator projected to actuate a diaphragm switch.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS elastomer nomenclature sheet 10preferably about 0.010 inch to 0.03 inch thick with indicia bearing keys11 about 5/8 inch in diameter to be manually operated. The nomenclaturesheet 10 defines visual keying areas 11. The polyurethane elastomer ispreferred because it is tough, wears well and allows for large localizeddeformation without affecting adjacent keying positions. Thenomenclature sheet 10 is part of the keying mechanism designed to befreely removable, at will, for replacement by another such unit bearingdifferent indicia so that the keyboard can be used for a multiplicity ofpurposes. In addition, unlike overlays, the indicia and the keys arereplaceable, allowing the indicia to be printed directly on the keywhere keying mechanisms are interchanged.

Below the sheet 10 is a protective sheet 14 (0005-0010 inch thick ofelastomer) serving as a dust cover sealing the actuating mechanism belowfrom the environment and facilitating manipulation of the sheet 10.

Under protective sheet 14 is a rigid frame member 15, preferably ofaluminum, having circular (or square) holes 17 therein alignedconcentrically with keys 11 to permit keys 11 to be depressedtherethrough, which in combination with keys 11 and buttons 16 definestactile keying areas corresponding to the visual keying areas 11.

Extending through circular holes 17 are key buttons 16 formed of a verysoft elastomer molded integrally in a pad 18. The elastomer ispreferably composed of a closed-pore cellular neoprene rubber(one-eighth inch-one-quarter inch thick) with a low compressive moduluson the order of ASTM SC-Ol I013.

Below the pad 18 is an actuator sheet 20 comprised of a moldedpreferably neoprene rubber or elastomer having a medium hardness ofabout 55-65 durometer about one-sixteenth inch thick having a pluralityof clusters of truncated cone-shaped protrusions 21, 22 with oneprotrusion 21 in the center and four preferably slightly. shorterprotrusions 22 spaced thereabout as shown in FIGS. A and 5B. Eachprotrusion 21 is aligned with the centers of keys 11, holes 17 and keybuttons 16. The outer protrusions 22 are in a circle about as inchdiameter spaced about the central protrusion 21. Preferably the centralprotrusion 21 is about 6 to mils longer than one-eighth inch and theother protrusions are /1:- inch long. Protrusions 21 when depressed movecontacts 24 into contact with contacts 27 of switches 28 which areelastic diaphragm switches described next, herein.

Below the actuator 20 is an array of diaphragm switches includingdiaphragm 23 of elastic material, preferably Mylar polyester, which is0.002 to 0.003 inch thick, and is copper clad (with gold plating) 0.0014inch thick to form contacts 26 and connections thereto, the the contacts24 below protrusions 21. Below diaphragm 23 is a Mylar separator sheet25 preferably 0.003 inch thick having a plurality of holes 26 therein5/32 inch in diameter aligned coaxially with protrusions 21. Diaphragm23 is spaced from spacer 25 and sheet 30 is spaced therefrom by thecopper members 24 and 27 which extend beyond the holes 26 on either sidethereof as shown in FIG. 7C and which are sufficiently stiff to hold thediaphragm above holes 26 when control protrusions 21 are not depressed.Below separator sheet 25 is sheet 30 on a base 29 of molded plasticbearing contacts 27 which are copper clad with gold plate 0.00 l 4 inchthick.

The combination of the very soft key pads 16 and the actuator sheet 20of medium hardness rubber provide a relatively long keying stoke withpretravel and overtravel, as shown in FIG. 3. The soft buttons 16 andthe flexible keys 11 provide a combination of actuating elements with alow spring constant,

and long stroke, which depends upon the stiffness of buttons 16 and keys11. An efficient method of adjusting the forcedeflection characteristicsor the feel" of the keying mechanism to requirements is to vary the gapbetween the sheet 14 and buttons 16 so a selected key 11 must deflectbefore any force is transmitted down to the associated switch. Anothermethod is to vary the ratio of stiffnesses between actuator 20 and pad18, by geometry or by changing the stiffness of the material.

The actuator sheet 20 with the discrete projections 21, 22 concentratesthe actuating force on the switches 28. This arrangement permitsrelatively large keying areas for each key position. The keying area canbe %-inch diameter for a switch area of only one-eighth inch toone-fourth inch. The actuating force required to operate a switchis-essentially constant over the surface of a keying area as illustratedby FIG. 4, based upon a specific switch which was tested which does notnecessarily show the general variation but simply is illustrative.However, because of projections 22, the actuating force remains constantover the surface of each of the keys 11. As indicated in FIG. 5A, andFIG. 5B, the cluster of protrusions 21,22 is well within the projectedcylinder defined by the keys 1]. The peripheral protrusions 22 areslightly shorter than the central protrusion 21 which actuates itsswitch. These protrusions 22 serve as key stops so that the actuatorsheet 20 and projection 21 can be stopped from excessive depressionbelow the level necessary to close contacts 24 and 26, so that force canbe spread out to protect the switches 28, and so that the adjacentprotrusions 21 will be prevented from closing their switches by generallowering of actuator 20 in the areas surrounding the associated button16. The protrusions 22 will tend to act as a fulcrum causing areasoutside the ring" of a cluster to rise rather than fall. Sinceprotrusions 22 are shorter, they facilitate closure by the centralprotrusion 21.

As force is applied, it is distributed as desired, and until protrusions22 contact the switch 20, force is concentrated on actuators 21.However, as forces are increased, the forces are spread out onto stops22 so that the greater forces are distributed over a relatively largerarea of sheet 23 and switch 28 by stops 22.

FIG. 3 shows the action of the keying mechanism as the force applied onthe vertical axis versus the displacement of the top surface of actuator20 with pretravel, (prior to closure, and overtravel after closure). Atthe end of the flat portion of the curve (after the switching point) therise reflects the load redistribution that occurs.

When the actuator protrusion 21 is depressed upon diaphragm 23, theprotrusion 21 must be sufficiently deformable and visco-elastic so thatit will produce minimal extrusion of the copper and the diaphragm 23 andwill permit very long diaphragm life. The hole 26 is large enough indiameter so that an overall clearance between the protrusion 21 and theedge of the hole 26 keeps the deflection stress on the copper and thedeflected diaphragm below a critical value.

FIGS. 6A and 6B show a vertical section and a bottom plan view of amodified actuator sheet 20 with a larger cluster of protrusions withfive central protrusions 21 and eight peripheral protrusions 22 foroperating five sets of contacts in diaphragm switch unit 28. Thisarrangement is desirable for larger keying areas, or where it is desiredto assure even a more uniform degree of equality of actuating forcerequired to close at least one set of contacts to be applied over thearea of a key 11.

FIG. 7A shows a vertical section along lines 7A-7A in FIG. 7B and FIG.7B shows a bottom plan view of a modified arrangement of the actuatorsheet 20 which is suitable for use in a similar keyboard with squarekeys. Instead of peripheral protrusions, however, a stop is formed by arib 32 inside the area of a key 33 shown in phantom, with the centralprotrusions 21 arranged as shown to fill the area inside rib 32. The rib32 serves as a stop which prevents actuation of or by adjacent key areasand which absorbs overtravel forces as described above.

FIG. 7C shows a vertical section along line 7C-7C in FIG. 7A which showshow contacts 24 and 27 bear against separator 25 to maintain separationof the diaphragm 23, separator 25 and sheet 30.

FIG. 8 shows a further modified version of the actuator sheet 20 withthe stops 34 formed integrally with the central protrusions 21, so thatovertravel will not pull down adjacent protrusions 21, because stops 34will prevent further depression of the actuator 21 then operating thecontact which is then switching from deflecting sheet 20 materially, andwhereby stops 34 absorb and spread overtravel forces to protect theswitch.

FIG. 9A shows a vertical section and FIG. 9B shows a bottom plan view ofan actuator sheet 20 having central protrusions 21 surrounded byindividual peripheral protrusions 35 analogous to a large number ofprotrusions 22 merging together at a predetermined radius.

In FIGS. 10A and B, the radial rib 35 of FIG. 9 is replaced by a solidstop 36 between depressed areas 37 surrounding the central protrusions21', whereby the protrusions are located in craterlike recesses in thelower surface of the actuator member 20.

FIG. 11 shows a hypothetical rigid member 40 which is not elastomeric,which is employed to depress the diaphragm 23, and it is shown at 41that the copper 24 and the diaphragm 23 have been deformed. In arelatively short time, the copper will be permanently extruded or bentby such an actuator.

FIG. 12 shows a hypothetical rigid square actuator 42 with squarecorners 43 which would tend to tear the diaphragm '23 at corners 43,although it is wide enough to not deform electrode 23. f

In FIG. 13, a third hypothetical ri'gid actuator 45 is shown with a flatlower surface 46 and edges 47 designed so that if it were perfectlyaligned with the diaphragm 23 and the contact 24 that it would providean even enough force on contact 24 to avoid deformation of the contact24. However, in fact, in a mechanism with dozens of actuators, theprobability of maintaining all actuators 45 in perfect alignment isexceedingly low; and furthermore, it is even lower that perfectalignment would persist. Thus, in short order, at least some of theswitch contacts 24 would as in FIG. 13 be bent by a corner 47 at anangle which is exaggerated in FIG. 13, for convenience of illustration,to show the bending of contact 24 to provide a poor set of contacts.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for actuating a diaphragm switch device comprising:

a keyboard; Q

a diaphragm switch device including an array of opposed electricalcontacts, one of said contacts in each pair being connected to adiaphragm,

a deformable member carryingaplurality of deformable projections, saiddeformable member confronting said diaphragm on the side opposite .tosaid one of said contacts, with at least some of said projections facingsaid diaphragm and being aligned to cooperate with said switch device toclose contacts, when actuated,

said keyboard cooperating with said deformable member to permitselective, actuation of sets of contacts of said switchby depressing asegment of said keyboard.

2. An apparatus for actuating a diaphragm switch comprisa diaphragmswitch device including an array of opposed electrical contacts, one ofsaid contacts in each pair being connected to a diaphragm, I

a deformable member carrying afplurality of deformable projections, saiddeformable member confronting said diaphragm on the side oppositeto saidone of said contacts, with at least some of said projections facing saiddiaphragm and being aligned to cooperate with said switch device toclose contacts, when actuated,

said keyboard cooperating with said deformable member to permitselective actuation of sets of contacts of said switch by depressing asegment ofsaid keyboard,

a keyboard,

a rigid frame member below saidkeyboard including key position separatoropenings therethrough,

soft button means coupling said keyboard through said separator openingsto said deformable member.

3. Means for actuating an array of diaphragm switch contacts comprising:

keyboard means, including a plurality of separate keying areas foroperating separate sets of contacts of a said diaphragm switch,

an elastomeric sheet bearing upon the lower surface thereof a pluralityof projections adapted for registration with said contacts, saidprojections being aligned with said keying areas for selective actuationactuation of contacts associated therewith,

said projections being surroundedv by means integral with said sheet andnot in registration with said contacts for resisting depression of saidprojections beyond a selected distance.

4. Means for actuating an array of diaphragm switch contacts comprising:

an elastomeric sheet bearing upon the lower surface thereof a pluralityof projections adapted for registration with said contacts.

said projections being surrounded by means for resisting depression ofsaid projections beyond a selected distance, rigid frame means havingopenings therethrough,

indicia bearing key means, aligned with said openings,

formed on a top surface member for said array above said frame means,

soft elastomeric button means disposed between said indicia bearing keymeans and said elastomeric sheet extending through said openings in saidrigid frame means.

5. Manual data input apparatus comprising:

a manual keying surface,

an elastic diaphragm switch array,

actuator means composed of deformable material for coupling said keyingsurface to a switch to be actuated in said array through defonnablemeans, andsaid actuator means including deformable means for restrainingmotion of a key area of said actuator beyond a predetermineddisplacement.

6. Manual data input apparatus comprising:

a manual keying surface,

an elastic diaphragm switch array,

an actuator means composed of deformable material for transmitting forcefrom said keying surface to an individual switch to be actuated in saidarray through resilient deformable means, and said actuator meansincluding deformable means for reacting to displacement thereof inexcess of a predetermined displacement required to close said switcheffective as a stop for said actuator means, effective for inhibitingfurther deflection and effective for inhibiting actuation of adjacentswitches by materially limiting displacement of said actuator means atpositions remote from a said switch to be actuated. 7. A keyboard, fordata entry including as follows: a keyboard, an actuator membercomprising a sheet including an input surface and an output surface onopposite sides thereof,

an array of means for switching comprising a plurality of diaphragmswitches each having an actuation surface confronting said outputsurface of said actuator member,

said actuator member having a plurality of projections extendingtherefrom to contact said actuation surface with said projections beingin alignment with said switches, and

said keyboard cooperating with said actuator member to permit selectiveactuation of each of said switches by depressing a segment of saidkeyboard.

8. A keyboard for data entry including as follows:

elastomeric keyboard means for bearing indicia,

an actuator member basically comprising an elastomeric sheet includingan input surface and an output surface on opposite sides thereof,

said keyboard means overlying said actuator member,

an array of means for switching comprising a plurality of elasticdiaphragm switches each having an actuation surface confronting saidoutput surface of said actuator member,

said actuator member having a plurality of projections extendingtherefrom to contact said actuation surface with projections inalignment with the input member of one of said switches for cooperationtherewith to respond to deflection of said actuation member in aspecific area to provide closure of contacts of a switch in saidspecific keyboard area,

and stop means included in said actuator member operative forrestraining deflection of said actuator beyond a predetermined distance.

9. Apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said means for stoppingcomprises a plurality of additional projections.

10. Apparatus in accordance with claim 9 wherein said additionalprojections are shorter than said first named projec- 5 tions.

11. Apparatus in accordance with claim 10 wherein a rigid frame with keyholes is disposed between said keyboard means and said actuator memberto provide separation.

12. Apparatus in accordance with claim 11 wherein a plurality of softelastomeric pads couple said keyboard means and said actuator memberthrough said key holes.

13. A device operable selectively for closing pairs of contacts of anarray of contacts comprising, in combination:

an array of pairs of electric contacts wherein a movable contact of eachsaid pair is carried on an elastic sheet and is separated from theopposing contact of the respective pair by a spacer having an openingtherethrough in alignment with and larger than said pair of opposingcontacts;

a deformable operator memberoverlying said elastic sheet and having onthe side adjacent said elastic sheet an array of operating elastomernibs of a given length, one in alignment with each of said contacts onsaid elastic sheet and adapted when depressed to move the respectivelyaligned contact on said sheet into contact with its opposing contact;

said operating member having arranged around each said nib a pluralityof additional elastomer nibs of a length shorter than said given length,and spaced from said nib to be beyond the edges of said aligned openingin said spacer;

said deformable operator member having on its opposite side an elastomeroperating area larger than and in alignment with each said elastomer nibof said given length, each said area being separated from adjacent areasby a trough area.

14. The device of claim 13 having a rigid frame member in said troughareas.

15. The device of claim 14 having an elastomer indicia bearing memberoverlaying said deformable operator member and said rigid frame andhaving an indicia area in alignment with each said operating area ofsaid deformable operator.

16. A device operable selectively for closing pairs of contacts of anarray of contacts comprising, in combination:

an array of pairs of electric contacts wherein a movable contact of eachsaid pair is carried on an elastic sheet and is separated from theopposing contact of the respective pair by a spacer having an openingtherethrough in alignment with and larger than said pair of opposingcontacts;

a deformable operator member overlying said elastic sheet and having onthe side adjacent said elastic sheet an array of operating elastomernibs ofa given length, one in alignment with each of said contacts onsaid elastic sheet and adapted when depressed to move the respectivelyaligned contact on said sheet into contact with its opposing contact;

said operating member having an arrangement of additional elastomer nibsof a length shorter than said given length arranged to surround groupsof at least one of said operating nib and spaced from said surroundedgroup of nibs a distance whereby said additional nibs are ineffective toclose contacts associated with said surrounded group of nibs;

said deformable operator member having on its opposite side an elastomeroperating area in alignment with each said group of surrounded nibs,each said area being separated from adjacent areas by a trough area.

17. The device of claim 16 having a rigid frame member in said troughareas.

18. The device of claim 17 having an elastomer indicia bearing memberoverlying said deformable operator member and said rigid frame andhaving an indicia area in alignment with each said operating area ofsaid deformable operator.

19. A device operable selectively for closing pairs of contacts of anarray of contacts comprising, in combination:

an elastic diaphragm switch comprising an array of pairs of electriccontacts;

a deformable operator member overlying said switch array and having onthe side adjacent said switch array, an array of operating elastomernibs of a given length, one in alignment with each of said pairs ofcontacts on said switch array and adapted when depressed to close therespective pair of contacts;

said operating member having arranged around each said nib, a pluralityof additional elastomer nibs of a length shorter than said given lengthand spaced from said nib a distance whereby said additional nibs areineffective to close said contacts;

said deformable operator member having on its opposite side an elastomeroperating area larger than and in alignment with each said elastomer nibof said given length, each said area being separated from adjacent areasby a trough area.

20. The device of claim 19 having a rigid frame member in said troughareas.

21. The device of claim 20 having an elastomer indicia bearing memberoverlaying said deformable operator member and said rigid frame andhaving an indicia area in alignment with each said operating area ofsaid deformable operator.

1. An apparatus for actuating a diaphragm switch device comprising: akeyboard; a diaphragm switch device including an array of opposedelectrical contacts, one of said contacts in each pair being connectedto a diaphragm, a deformable member carrying a plurality of deformableprojections, said deformable member confronting said diaphragm on theside opposite to said one of said contacts, with at least some of saidprojections facing said diaphragm and being aligned to cooperate withsaid switch device to close contacts, when actuated, said keyboardcooperating with said deformable member to permit selective actuation ofsets of contacts of said switch by depressing a segment of saidkeyboard.
 2. An apparatus for actuating a diaphragm switch comprising: adiaphragm switch device including an array of opposed electricalcontacts, one of said contacts in each pair being connected to adiaphragm, a deformable member carrying a plurality of deformableprojections, said deformable member confronting said diaphragm on theside opposite to said one of said contacts, with at least some of saidprojections facing said diaphragm and being aligned to cooperate withsaid switch device to close contacts, when actuated, said keyboardcooperating with said deformable member to permit selective actuation ofsets of contacts of said switCh by depressing a segment of saidkeyboard, a keyboard, a rigid frame member below said keyboard includingkey position separator openings therethrough, soft button means couplingsaid keyboard through said separator openings to said deformable member.3. Means for actuating an array of diaphragm switch contacts comprising:keyboard means, including a plurality of separate keying areas foroperating separate sets of contacts of a said diaphragm switch, anelastomeric sheet bearing upon the lower surface thereof a plurality ofprojections adapted for registration with said contacts, saidprojections being aligned with said keying areas for selective actuationactuation of contacts associated therewith, said projections beingsurrounded by means integral with said sheet and not in registrationwith said contacts for resisting depression of said projections beyond aselected distance.
 4. Means for actuating an array of diaphragm switchcontacts comprising: an elastomeric sheet bearing upon the lower surfacethereof a plurality of projections adapted for registration with saidcontacts, said projections being surrounded by means for resistingdepression of said projections beyond a selected distance, rigid framemeans having openings therethrough, indicia bearing key means, alignedwith said openings, formed on a top surface member for said array abovesaid frame means, soft elastomeric button means disposed between saidindicia bearing key means and said elastomeric sheet extending throughsaid openings in said rigid frame means.
 5. Manual data input apparatuscomprising: a manual keying surface, an elastic diaphragm switch array,actuator means composed of deformable material for coupling said keyingsurface to a switch to be actuated in said array through deformablemeans, and said actuator means including deformable means forrestraining motion of a key area of said actuator beyond a predetermineddisplacement.
 6. Manual data input apparatus comprising: a manual keyingsurface, an elastic diaphragm switch array, an actuator means composedof deformable material for transmitting force from said keying surfaceto an individual switch to be actuated in said array through resilientdeformable means, and said actuator means including deformable means forreacting to displacement thereof in excess of a predetermineddisplacement required to close said switch effective as a stop for saidactuator means, effective for inhibiting further deflection andeffective for inhibiting actuation of adjacent switches by materiallylimiting displacement of said actuator means at positions remote from asaid switch to be actuated.
 7. A keyboard, for data entry including asfollows: a keyboard, an actuator member comprising a sheet including aninput surface and an output surface on opposite sides thereof, an arrayof means for switching comprising a plurality of diaphragm switches eachhaving an actuation surface confronting said output surface of saidactuator member, said actuator member having a plurality of projectionsextending therefrom to contact said actuation surface with saidprojections being in alignment with said switches, and said keyboardcooperating with said actuator member to permit selective actuation ofeach of said switches by depressing a segment of said keyboard.
 8. Akeyboard for data entry including as follows: elastomeric keyboard meansfor bearing indicia, an actuator member basically comprising anelastomeric sheet including an input surface and an output surface onopposite sides thereof, said keyboard means overlying said actuatormember, an array of means for switching comprising a plurality ofelastic diaphragm switches each having an actuation surface confrontingsaid output surface of said actuator member, said actuator member havinga plurality of projections extending therefrom to contact saiD actuationsurface with projections in alignment with the input member of one ofsaid switches for cooperation therewith to respond to deflection of saidactuation member in a specific area to provide closure of contacts of aswitch in said specific keyboard area, and stop means included in saidactuator member operative for restraining deflection of said actuatorbeyond a predetermined distance.
 9. Apparatus in accordance with claim 8wherein said means for stopping comprises a plurality of additionalprojections.
 10. Apparatus in accordance with claim 9 wherein saidadditional projections are shorter than said first named projections.11. Apparatus in accordance with claim 10 wherein a rigid frame with keyholes is disposed between said keyboard means and said actuator memberto provide separation.
 12. Apparatus in accordance with claim 11 whereina plurality of soft elastomeric pads couple said keyboard means and saidactuator member through said key holes.
 13. A device operableselectively for closing pairs of contacts of an array of contactscomprising, in combination: an array of pairs of electric contactswherein a movable contact of each said pair is carried on an elasticsheet and is separated from the opposing contact of the respective pairby a spacer having an opening therethrough in alignment with and largerthan said pair of opposing contacts; a deformable operator memberoverlying said elastic sheet and having on the side adjacent saidelastic sheet an array of operating elastomer nibs of a given length,one in alignment with each of said contacts on said elastic sheet andadapted when depressed to move the respectively aligned contact on saidsheet into contact with its opposing contact; said operating memberhaving arranged around each said nib a plurality of additional elastomernibs of a length shorter than said given length, and spaced from saidnib to be beyond the edges of said aligned opening in said spacer; saiddeformable operator member having on its opposite side an elastomeroperating area larger than and in alignment with each said elastomer nibof said given length, each said area being separated from adjacent areasby a trough area.
 14. The device of claim 13 having a rigid frame memberin said trough areas.
 15. The device of claim 14 having an elastomerindicia bearing member overlaying said deformable operator member andsaid rigid frame and having an indicia area in alignment with each saidoperating area of said deformable operator.
 16. A device operableselectively for closing pairs of contacts of an array of contactscomprising, in combination: an array of pairs of electric contactswherein a movable contact of each said pair is carried on an elasticsheet and is separated from the opposing contact of the respective pairby a spacer having an opening therethrough in alignment with and largerthan said pair of opposing contacts; a deformable operator memberoverlying said elastic sheet and having on the side adjacent saidelastic sheet an array of operating elastomer nibs of a given length,one in alignment with each of said contacts on said elastic sheet andadapted when depressed to move the respectively aligned contact on saidsheet into contact with its opposing contact; said operating memberhaving an arrangement of additional elastomer nibs of a length shorterthan said given length arranged to surround groups of at least one ofsaid operating nib and spaced from said surrounded group of nibs adistance whereby said additional nibs are ineffective to close contactsassociated with said surrounded group of nibs; said deformable operatormember having on its opposite side an elastomer operating area inalignment with each said group of surrounded nibs, each said area beingseparated from adjacent areas by a trough area.
 17. The device of claim16 having a rigid frame member in said trough areas.
 18. The device ofclaim 17 having an elastomer indicia bearIng member overlying saiddeformable operator member and said rigid frame and having an indiciaarea in alignment with each said operating area of said deformableoperator.
 19. A device operable selectively for closing pairs ofcontacts of an array of contacts comprising, in combination: an elasticdiaphragm switch comprising an array of pairs of electric contacts; adeformable operator member overlying said switch array and having on theside adjacent said switch array, an array of operating elastomer nibs ofa given length, one in alignment with each of said pairs of contacts onsaid switch array and adapted when depressed to close the respectivepair of contacts; said operating member having arranged around each saidnib, a plurality of additional elastomer nibs of a length shorter thansaid given length and spaced from said nib a distance whereby saidadditional nibs are ineffective to close said contacts; said deformableoperator member having on its opposite side an elastomer operating arealarger than and in alignment with each said elastomer nib of said givenlength, each said area being separated from adjacent areas by a trougharea.
 20. The device of claim 19 having a rigid frame member in saidtrough areas.
 21. The device of claim 20 having an elastomer indiciabearing member overlaying said deformable operator member and said rigidframe and having an indicia area in alignment with each said operatingarea of said deformable operator.